1961 Fresno State Bulldogs football team

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1961

| rankdivision = small college

| poll = AP

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 23

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| neutral = y

| opponent = Montana State

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Great Falls, MT

| score = 16–13

| attend = 6,000–6,800

| source = {{cite news |author= |title=Bulldogs Squeeze Out 16-13 Win Over MSC |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86580871/great-falls-tribune/ |newspaper=Great Falls Tribune |location=Great Falls, Montana |date=September 24, 1961 |page=15 |access-date=October 5, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}{{cite web |author= |title=Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Montana State) |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/team/440/stats/12865 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=October 15, 2022 }}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 30

| w/l = w

| opponent = UC Santa Barbara

| site_stadium = Ratcliffe Stadium

| site_cityst = Fresno, CA

| score = 22–14

| attend = 9,066–10,500

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 7

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Pacific (CA)

| site_stadium = Pacific Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Stockton, CA

| score = 20–19

| attend = 9,500–10,000

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 14

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = Cal Poly

| site_stadium = Mustang Stadium

| site_cityst = San Luis Obispo, CA

| score = 42–13

| attend = 6,000–7,250

| source = {{cite web |author= |title=Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Cal Poly) |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/team/90/stats/12865 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=June 11, 2022 }}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 21

| w/l = w

| rank = 10

| opponent = Los Angeles State

| site_stadium = Ratcliffe Stadium

| site_cityst = Fresno, CA

| score = 35–6

| attend = 11,151–13,000

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 28

| w/l = w

| rank = 6

| opponent = San Diego State

| site_stadium = Ratcliffe Stadium

| site_cityst = Fresno, CA

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 27–6

| attend = 6,595–8,000

| source = {{cite news|title=Fresno's Barrage Rips Aztecs|newspaper=The San Diego Union|location=San Diego, California|author=Howard Hagen|date=October 29, 1961|page=B-1}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 3

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 6

| opponent = Long Beach State

| site_stadium = Veterans Stadium

| site_cityst = Long Beach, CA

| score = 37–14

| attend = 4,800–5,000

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 11

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| rank = 5

| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1961|team=Abilene Christian Wildcats|title=Abilene Christian}}

| site_stadium = Ratcliffe Stadium

| site_cityst = Fresno, CA

| score = 21–7

| attend = 9,960–11,500

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 18

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| rank = 3

| opponent = San Jose State

| site_stadium = Ratcliffe Stadium

| site_cityst = Fresno, CA

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 36–27

| attend = 14,141–15,000

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 23

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| neutral = y

| rank = 3

| opponent = Bowling Green

| site_stadium = Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA

| gamename = Mercy Bowl

| score = 36–6

| attend = 33,146

| source = {{cite news|title='Perfect' Bulldogs Leave Coliseum Imprint: FSC Puts On Dazzler In 36-6 Victory|newspaper=The Fresno Bee|date=November 24, 1961|pages=1B, 7B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fresno-bee-perfect-bulldogs-leave/154865451/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

}}

{{cite web |author= |title=Fresno State Football Media Guide |url=https://gobulldogs.com/documents/2024/8/21/5._2024_Record_Book.pdf |publisher=Fresno State Athletics |page=120 |access-date=January 24, 2025 }}

The team tallied 2,825 yards of total offense (313.9 yards per game), consisting of 1,798 rushing yards and 1,027 passing yards. On defense, the Bulldogs gave up 1,938 yards to opponents, including 1,069 rushing yards and 869 passing yards.

Quarterback Beau Carter led the team in passing, completing 43 of 86 passes (50%) for 557 yards with five touchdowns and four interceptions. He ranked second on the team in rushing with 480 yards on 59 carries. He also led the team in total offense with 981 yards ans scoring with 43 yards on six touchdowns, three extra point kicks, and a pair of two-point conversion runs.

Halfback Bill Kendrick led the team in rushing with 468 yards on 84 carries. End Gerald Houser led the team in receiving with 20 catches for 245 yards.{{cite web|title=Brief Summary of Cumulative Football Statistics|publisher=NCAA|accessdate=August 8, 2024|url=https://stats.ncaa.org/team/96/stats/12865}}

Five Fresno State players were selected by the conference coaches as first-team players on the 1961 All-CCAA football team: back Bill Kendrick; tackles Montie Day and Sonny Biship; guard Doug Brown; and center J. R. Williams.{{cite news|title=Fresno State Puts Five on All-Stars In All-Cal Circuit|newspaper=The San Bernardino Daily Sun|date=December 2, 1961|page=A21|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-fresno-sta/156837987/|via=Newspapers.com}}

The following were selected in the 1962 NFL draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1962.htm|title=1962 NFL Draft|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |access-date = December 7, 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/schools/fresnost/|title=Fresno St. Players/Alumni|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |access-date = December 12, 2016}}

The following were selected in the 1962 AFL Draft.

{{Reflist}}

{{Fresno State Bulldogs football navbox}}

Fresno State

Category:Fresno State Bulldogs football seasons

Category:California Collegiate Athletic Association football champion seasons

Category:College football undefeated seasons

Fresno State Bulldogs football